Grades 6-8
Activity
Create a Coral Reef
Did you know that, at their core, coral reefs are the skeletons of thousands of dead coral? Make your own coral reef diorama—with pasta, Play-Doh™, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and hair curlers.
Activity
Be an Ocean Helper
Even if you live nowhere near the water, there are some simple ways you can help protect the oceans. What are you already doing to help? And what activities should you add?
Activity
Rubber Blubber Gloves
If you've ever dipped your toes in the ocean, you know the water can be downright chilly. So how do whales and walruses manage to stay warm in frigid waters? Find out with this fun hands-on activity.
Activity
Test Density with a Supersaturated Solution
You know that oil and water don't mix, but what about saltwater and freshwater? Find out firsthand with this kid-friendly experiment that examines both salinity and density.
Activity
Slowing the Flow
All mammals—dogs, sea lions, and even you—have an adaptation for surviving in cold water. Take the plunge, and learn why the mammalian diving reflex is your cold-water friend.
Hands-on Activity
Ocean Books
Explore the ocean's depths. Make your own diving bird mobile or Treasure Island map. Discover what sharks eat—and how it tastes. And set your mind afloat with these 12 kid-friendly books.
Activity
Cartesian Diver
In this hands-on experiment, students create a neutrally buoyant "diver" and then observe the effects of increased water pressure.
Article
Bobwhite Quail Decline in Texas
Why was this 11th-grader from Texas stopping at every mile marker along the road and randomly tossing a hula hoop over his shoulder? To further science, of course!
Hands-on Activity
Buried Bones
The next time you have chicken, don't throw out the bones—bury them in plaster of Paris. Then, scrape by scrape, see firsthand the challenges archaeologists face when excavating fossils.
Activity
Make Your Own Einstein Stationery
Don't just jot down your notes and ideas on plain paper. Showcase them alongside the musings and insights of Albert Einstein with these colorful, ready-to-print PDF stationery files.
